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Readings Between the Lines
Reflections
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Father Glenn LeCompte
“Father, you’re not going to make me read all those names, are you?” Concerned about their ability to pronounce biblical names not common to us, several deacons have posed that question to me just before the Christmas Vigil Mass. They are referring to the “long form” of the Gospel reading, which includes Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Granted, some of the names are unfamiliar and a genealogy might not be the most interesting type of literature to which we might listen. Nevertheless, Matthew 1:18-25, the narrative of Jesus’ birth, is more fully understood if we read the 17 verses which come before it.
What should we look for in biblical genealogies? First, to whom is the genealogy leading? Secondly, with whom is the ultimate subject of the genealogy being associated? Thirdly, what transpires between the person at the beginning of the genealogy and the ultimate subject of it?
Matthew introduces his book’s main character, Jesus, as the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (1:1). With regard to the question of the ultimate subject of the genealogy, it is obviously Jesus. Matthew characterizes Jesus as “the Messiah” (“Christ” in Greek). It is evident from the Gospels themselves that opinions about the role of a Messiah in first century Jewish thought were multiple. Was it a priestly, political, prophetic or military figure, or all of the above? By narrating his story of Jesus, Matthew will tell us what he believes the Messiah is.
Jesus is Son of Abraham, the great patriarch of the Jewish nation. For Jesus to be depicted as the most critical descendant in Abraham’s line is to say that through Jesus the promises God made to Abraham of becoming a great nation, of land for him and his descendants and to be a source of blessing for all nations (Genesis 12:2-3) are fulfilled. Outside of 1:1-25 Abraham’s name appears three times in Matthew’s Gospel. In 3:9, John the Baptist declares to the Jewish crowd listening to his preaching that descent from Abraham is no longer enough to be considered a child of Abraham. Rather Abraham’s true children will bring the “fruits of repentance.” In 21:43 Jesus will declare that the Kingdom will be transferred from the current leadership of Israel to a fruitbearing nation, a nation comprised of people who repent and believe in Jesus. In 8:11, Jesus declares that many from “east and west” (in other words, the whole populated world, including Gentiles) will recline with Abraham at table in the kingdom of heaven. This statement by Jesus reflects the promise to Abraham that through Abraham and his descendants all nations of the earth would find blessing. Finally, Jesus proves to the Sadducees, who claim the doctrine of bodily resurrection is not contained in the Jewish Law and therefore not a belief of Judaism, uses a passage (Exodus 3:6) which mentions Abraham to prove that eternal life is indeed envisioned in the Pentateuch. God declares to Moses he is (currently) the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and therefore they live in some way in God’s presence. Jesus’ resurrection will confirm his interpretation of the Law concerning eternal life.
Jesus is also Son of David, who is, of course, the model king of all the monarchs of Judah and Israel. When the Jews were released from the Babylonian Exile, even though they were governed by the Persians, they held out hope for an heir to David’s throne to rise up and reestablish their nation (see e.g. Ezekiel 34:2324). The title “Son of David” is used in reference to Jesus seven times in Matthew’s Gospel (9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9, 15) and once by Jesus in a question he poses to the religious leaders (22:42).
The people acknowledge Jesus’ royal status as he enters Jerusalem by cheering him as Son of David (21:9). This kingly acclamation of Jesus as he begins the final phase of his ministry in Jerusalem recalls the regal status attributed him as the descendant of David in Matthew 1:1-25.
In three instances, Jesus is addressed as Son of David by people who ask a
Reflections
him to heal them (9:27, 15:22; and two times in 20:30-31). Why should they associate the Son of David with having the ability to heal? In Ezekiel 34:1-10, God chastises the irresponsible leaders of Israel, who “did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured” (34:4). One of the remedies God proposes to address this situation is to “appoint one shepherd over them to pasture them, (God’s) servant David” (34:23). Here we have a precedent for people to recognize Jesus as a healer under the title, “Son of David.”
Finally, in 22:41-45, Jesus poses a question to the religious leaders concerning interpretation of Jewish religious teaching. Jesus prompts them to articulate the belief that the Messiah is commonly held to be David’s son. But he points out a puzzling riddle in Psalm 110:1. David calls the Messiah his Lord, but how can this be if the Messiah is David’s son? The religious leaders are unable to answer, but Jesus can assert that as both Son of God and the Messiah, he is the solution to the riddle.
What does all this say about the child born to Mary and adopted by Joseph? He represents the fulfillment of God’s promises to and culmination of his plan for his chosen people. Jesus will at once bring the chosen people to its fullness and fulfill God’s promise to bring blessing to all the earth through Abraham. The chosen people-cometo-fulfillment will consist of Gentiles along with Jews, will bear the fruit of repentance, and the “land” they will inherit is the kingdom of heaven, not a physical location but an end-time society of people redeemed through Jesus, the Son of Abraham. In addition, as Son of David, he is the fulfillment of the people’s expectation of both a Messiah and the re-emergence of an heir to David’s throne. He will especially fulfill this role by saving all people from sin. His status as “Emmanuel, God-with-us,” (1:23) means he became at his incarnation and continues to be through his risen life the ever-constant presence of God for us. BC
Reflection Questions
v At Christmas we celebrate Jesus as heir to David’s throne, Messiah and savior. What practical implications might you see in acknowledging Jesus as such for yourself? v As Son of Abraham, Jesus brings about a new chosen people, whose membership transcends culture and race. What does it mean to you to be a part of this people? v Jesus is invoked as Son of David when people ask him to heal them. What kind of healing might you request from the Son of David?
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